Lincoln, Neb. ? Omaha, Neb., native T.J. Walz had a happy homecoming Sunday.

Walz held ninth-ranked Nebraska to three runs over 72â3 innings as Kansas University avoided a sweep of its Big 12 Conference baseball series with a 6-3 victory in the finale at Hawks Field.

Walz (3-0) allowed six hits, with a walk and five strikeouts in picking up his first Big 12 win. Paul Smyth earned his seventh save with 11â3 hitless, scoreless innings.

Offensively, the Jayhawks (25-18 overall, 5-10 Big 12) were led by Buck Afenir, who had three hits and two RBIs. John Allman and Erik Morrison each contributed two hits. Allman also had two RBIs.

Nebraska, which won the first two games in the series, fell to 28-7-1 and 13-4-1.

Kansas will travel to another top-10 team at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when it faces Wichita State at Eck Field.